The oval has been the home ground of South Bunbury Football Club and in the South West Football League since the early 1950s.[2] Hands Oval has also hosted five West Australian Football League matches, with the first being held on 1 April 1984 with East Perth defeating Swan Districts by 14 points. The record attendance for the ground was set during this match, with 6573 spectators attending the game.[3]
The ground is home to the South West Football League headquarters and hosts its grand final each year, with 4,075 spectators attending the 2024 grand final.[4]
The ground also hosted two Fremantle Dockers pre-season NAB Challenge in 2009 and 2011:[5]
Hands Oval hosted a pre-season match between the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne Football Club on 1 March 2025, with a crowd of 7,032.[6][7] On 8 June 2025, the ground hosted its first AFL match for premiership points, with North Melbourne defeating West Coast by ten points, in front of a record crowd of 12,715.[8] This was the first game in a three-year deal for North Melbourne to play two home matches in Western Australia, with the other match played at Optus Stadium.[9]
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2009, Preseason |
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| Saturday, 14 March 2009 |
Fremantle 20.6 (126) |
def. |
Carlton 12.11 (83) |
Hands Oval (crowd: 5,000 est.) |
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2011, Preseason |
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| Saturday, 5 March 2011 |
Fremantle 9.14 (68) |
def. by |
Western Bulldogs 14.14 (98) |
Hands Oval (crowd: 4,000 est.) |
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